EuroFormula Open race winner Yu Kanamaru will make his Formula Renault 3.5 Series debut this weekend at the Nurburgring after being announced by Pons Racing, but may not be partnered by Roberto Merhi.
Kanamaru, who currently third in the EuroFormula Open standings having won once at Silverstone and having taken four additional podium finishes for Emilio de Villota Motorsport, a sister team of the Pons Racing outfit that race in World Series by Renault.
Kanamaru is set to replace Philo Paz Patric Armand in the team, who continues to have Visa problems, while Merhi was set to return to the outfit having been forced to skip the race at Silverstone due to his Formula 1 commitments at Monza with the Manor F1 Team, with Will Bratt having raced in his place last weekend in Great Britain. Rumours in Spain indicate that Merhi has abandoned his World Series campaign.
“I know Kanamaru really well and we witnessed his growth race by race in the EuroFormula Open,” said Team Manager Emilio de Villota. “The move to the Renault 3.5 championship is a natural progression for him, although it won’t be easy to line-up without an adequate testing program.
“On the other hand, I know that Yu has all the qualities needed to successfully approach a powerful and demanding car like the Dallara-Gibson”
